From a bandits’ haven to Spain’s top tourist site: the story of the Alhambra
Photo: Alhambra palace. Courtesy of Tharik Hussain.
It was during this month in 1870 that the Alhambra, the palace complex in Granada, Spain, officially became a national monument. Today, it is the country’s premiere tourist site, attracting thousands of visitors daily and topping lists for Spain on both TripAdvisor and the country’s official tourism board.
It is also the number one attraction for Muslim travellers to Spain. “Almost every single Muslim and non-Muslim who visits Granada comes to see the Alhambra. It is definitely the most popular site for Muslim travellers,” Yasin Maymir, founder of Granada-based ilimtour Muslim Travels, told My Salaam. “They come because the Alhambra represents that glorious period of Muslim Spain known as Al-Andalus.”
Photo: Tourists at the Alhambra palace. Courtesy of Tharik Hussain.
But this wasn’t always the case. Virtually lost to the world for over a hundred years, the Alhambra fell into disrepair and was almost completely forgotten.
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Tharik Hussain